Fuel-briquette forming and drying machine



Jan. y10, 1928. l'

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W. C. CARPENTER FUEL BRIQUETTE FORMINGAND DRYING MACHINE Jan. 10, 1928. 1,655,534

Filed March 1B. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .lzfff Patented Jan. 10,1928.y v

[UNITED .STATES PATENT z-FFl-f L WILLIAMC. CARPENTER, or SAN EBANcisoo, CALIIQRNIA- nUEL-BRIIQUETTE romaine AND DRYING MACHINE.

Application led March =18, 1928. ySerial Nr'o.l95,622.V

My invention relates to an apparatus for producing fuel briquettes from sawdust,

Wood shaviiigs, and the like, and has for its principalobjects the provisionl of a irelatively siinple and :practical apparatus wvliereby briquettes may be produced froni1sawydust, Wood shavings, and thellike, and in which 'practicecertain elements in the yniaf terial fioiii .which 'the briquettes are iorined provide V,the necessary binding element, there- `by doing away with the requirement ofaii extraneous binder; further, to provide iinprovedv means 'of forming connninuted Wood into Vrelatively hardvbriquettes having uni- 16 forni :densitythroughout their bodies.; and further, to provide iiieaiis for `baking the briquettes .or subjecting the saine to heat While they are kin the inolds or forins :for the purpose rof searing or charring the surfaces of the lbriquettes,A thus providing ya carbonaceous crust that serves as a protection for -the greater portion kof the inaterial form-ing Athe bodies of the briquettes and eiithe briquettes toV be `readily handled in storage, transportation, and use, Without fracture, breakage, and disintegration." I

Further objects `of iny invention are to provide relatively simple and practical 'apparatus' that may be economically operated in the pioeuction of vbriquettes from sawdust, Wood shavings, and the like, which apparatus `includes `a rotary iead or ineinber-that carries a plurality of combined diesand baking chambers," 4furtheig'to pro vide ineens whereby rthe ybriquttes, after being orined, may be 4conveniently baked or subjected to heat for any desired period of time, thus-searing or charring the bodies of 'theV briqueltes to any desired depth, and iurthen-t'o provide an apparatus that will Within a'given period of time produce a relatively large tonnage or 'out-put of briquettes, and `whichlatter are ready for fuse inmediately alter being discharged from the iioi'ining and baking ineens.

il Jlui-'ther object ol' Aiiiy invention is to piosiidey a fuel briquette forming apparatus with simple.andellectivefineans for rapidlyV cooling or reducing the teiiiperatui'eof the uled readily with practically little if Aany breakage or disintegration liii'iinediately 'alter the briquettes are ydischarged'i'ornthe ap-A paratus. Y l n 5" lVith the foregoing and other objects iii view, niy invention consists in certain novel ,briquettesjin order tliatfthe saine ina-y 4be han-` ieatures .of construction and arrangementj of :part-s that will Ahereinafter be more `fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in .Which-4- F ll is vertical section taken lengthwise throughiathe center iol a briquette machine ,embodying :the vprinciples off 'my invention.

F ig. 2 is a cross section ,taken on the line 2-20114l Fig. l. Y

Fig. :3 #isa cross section taken on the line 3-5 of -[`+ig. il.

Fig.' i iis .an enlarged .cross L:section taken on lthe line i-4cfof Fig. 1;

Fig; y is an enlarged cross section 4taken ybase provided adjacent to itseiids with stand er-ds il 112 4andthe vupper portions' oi' 7 is a `sectional View yoi a modified in 'forming' the ibri-Y said standards being provided j-vvith"fbeafr-4 ings' 13 `ior:trunnions ll that project from kthe `ends :off thefrOtaiy ineni'ber that carries the'yconibined orniing vand ibaking dies and 'the fcooling diesv or briquette holders; lillhis :rotary vineii'iber lcomprises an axially disposed Vshaft .that `is 1inl line with the trunnions i4 and said shalt carryingy a ser-ies of three `disks`v 18 und lQyand thesedisks ibeing radially arranged `-vvebsl'or t connected by plateszQO. Y. n

llhe rotary tineinber r`thus constructed may heidi-,iv

orniedlon kthe periphery of one fof the -dis-ks, preferably/the center `disk 18.

A 'shell 23 ofsuitable sheet -inetalencircles" that portion of the rotary nieiiiber --bef tween the disks 17 and lSaiid formed in ysaid 4shell yis ai -circumferentiallyy disposed row :of apertures 2li, there being one raperture Afor each chamber 'between the radially disposed webs Q0. lSecifiredin `any suitable inanner to lthe base l0 vis ka ring that encirclesshell 23 and overlies the row of. aperturi'esfthcrein, and forn'ied ingthetop of 'said ring is anoutlet opening.

The :combined forming and baking `dies i' for ltliebriquettes are formed' 'of sections of metal `tubing L27 that arearr'aiiged lengthfio en in any Isuitable finanner, for instance byineans of worin'ivheelsuchas y2l :i5 that-engages teeth QQ'and'Which 'flatter are ioo Wise of the rotary member With the ends of said tubing occupying suitably formed openings in the disks 17 and 18. The forward or material receiving ends of these tubular members have secured thereto in any suitable manner collars 28 that occupy corresponding recesses formed in the outer face of the disk 1? and arranged on the interior of each tubular member at the forward end thereof is a series of longitudinally disposed ribs 29 of hardened metal7 which ribs are substantially triangular in cross section and arranged so that their apices project a slight distance into the chamber of the tubular die. The rear ends of the dies are threaded. to receive collars 30 that bear directly against the face of disk 18.

The rear portions of the dies are slightly countersunk or enlarged by being milled out as designated by 31 in order to permit the formed and baked briquettes to readily7 discharge from the forming dies into the fori Ward ends of the briquette holders that occupy the cooling chamber of the apparatus.

Each tubular die is provided throughout its length with one or more rows of minute perforations 32, the same being provided in order to permit the escape of'gases and volaxtile matter that are driven out of the briquettes While the same are being baked.

Y Seated in each tubular die and at suitlable points throughout its length and preferably in longitudinal alignment With each other and with the ribs 29 are pins or screws 33 that pass through the Walls of the tube and the inner ends of said pins or screws are pointed. These pins or screws are for the purpose of keeping open the grooves that are formed in the peripheries of the briquettes by the ribs 29 and which latter, as set forth, are seated in the forward ends of the tubular members 27.

Rigidly fixed in a portion of the frame of the machine above the front trunnion 14 is a sleeve 34 that functions as a primary former or die for the brquettes and seated in the opening through this die or former are longitudinally vdisposed ribs 35 that are V-shaped in cross section and which ribs are disposed so that they coincide with the ribs 29 carried by the forward end of each tubular member 27. i

rllhe sleeve 34 or pr'mary forming die is positioned so that as the rotary member of the apparatus is rotated the tubular members 27 will be successively brought into direct alignment with the sleeve 34 and, as this alignment is' accomplif'hed, the ribs 35 will align with the ribs 29. r)The material from vvh'ch the briquettes are formed may be fed intothe sleeve or primaryforming die in any suitable manner, preferably from a hopper (not shown) that is positioned directly in front of said sleeveand arranged for reciprocatory movement through said hopper and through the sleeve 34 is a plunger 36 that is provided in its peri hery with longitudinally disposed grooves 3( that accomn'iodate the ribs 35 and 29. The travel of this plunger' is such that it passes entirely through sleeve 34 and passes a slight distance into the forward end of each tubular member 27.

Arranged between the disks 18 and 19 and in longitudinal alignment With the dies 27 are holders for the formed briquettes While the sa .ie are being cooled,each holder com prising a longitudinally disposed tube 38 that is provided throughout its length with a seriesof longitudinally disposed slots 39 and coiled about each of these tubes is a resilient Wires-O. This construction enables each tubular holder to expand and contract to a slight degree and which action facilitates the travel of the briqucttes through the holders While said bri'qucttes are being cooled.

The ends of the holders, which are open, are su pported in any suitable manner in the disks 18 and 19. Enclosing the entire series of briquette holders 38 is a shell 41, the ends of which are secured to disks 18 and 19, and formed in this shell adjacent to each formed briquette holder is an aperture such as 42 and arranged at various points around the periphery of said shell are cool air discharge tub 43 that are adapted to direct jets of cool air through said openings 42 for the purpose of cooling the formed briquette holders.

interposed between rear bearing 12 and disk` 19 is a relatively large disk 44 which is etfective in assisting the rear bearing 12 in counter-acting or resisting the relatively heavy strains that are transmitted to the rotary member While the plunger is compressinffthe material into briquettes and forcing the latter into the combined forming and baking dies. t

rthe means for heating the tubular members 27 comprises one or more gas or oil burner tubes such as 45 that extend length Wise of the rotary member from rear disk 19 through the intermediate disk 18 into each chamber beneath the radial Webs that connect the disks 17 and 18 and the rear end of each tube communicates with a common fuel chamber 46, the latter being formed in rear disk 19 and being supplied with gas or oil through an axially disposed duct 47 that is formed in the rear portion of shaft 16 and rear trunnion 14. A gas or oil supply pipe 48 is connected by means of a slip joint 49 to the rear of duct 47.

In producing briquettes in my improved a aparatus, the drum or multiple die is intermittently rotated so as to successively bring the tubular die 27 into alignment with the primary die 34, such intermittent rotary motion taking place while plunger 36 is oeing Withdrawn through the primary die.

lun

in homogeneous mass Within the receiving` end of the tubular die and against the face of the previously formed briquette.

Inasmuch as a relatively high degree of pressure is applied to the briquette material during. the forming operations, and as the dies 2T are heated to a considerable degree, a certain percentage of the resin, creosote, and like elements, will be driven from the cells in the particles of Woodor vegetable fiber from: which the briquettes are formed and these elementswvill naturally pass to the surfacey ofthe briquettes Where, when softend by the heat, they will act as a lubricant to facilitate the travel of the briquettes toward the rear endsof the dies 27.

As the briquettes are ythus formed, there Will be produced in the circumferential sur-` faces thereof,r a plurality of longitudinally disposed grooves, the same being formed by the' ribs 35 and29. These ribs provide chair nels'that permit the/ready escape of gaseous and volatile matter that is readily liberated and escapes as the briquettesl are subjected to higher temperatures Within the machine.

In this connection it will be understood that during the briquette forming operations, the oil orga'seous fuel burningV at the orifice'r of the burner tubes 45'v provides the necessary heat within that portion of the apparatus that .is occupied by the combinedY forming Llll and baking dies 27.

After a briquette has been thus 4formed and pressed into the forward end of one of the tubular dies 27andithe plunger 36 hasV been Withdrawn, the multiple dies is ro-i tated so as tobring the next adjacent tubular y die intol alignment With the forming die 34e and-,the plunger again moves forward to repeat the briquette formingoperation.

The briquettes that occupy the tubular members 27 Will be subjected to heat'from the jets' of the burner tubes 45 and as said briquettes are heated or baked, practically all volatile matter and. gases willv be eX- pelle'd from the cells in the material frbm which the brquettes are formedand these gases escape through the perforationsr `32 andthose gases that do not burn finally pass through the apertures/24 and out 'througl `outlet aperture26. .eo z

ter froml the interior'of the fbriquettes vduringrIhe release of the ga'ses'iand lvolatile the baking period accelerated by the provision of the groovesin thefsurfaces ofthe briquettes and which grooves areV formed yby thev ribs 29 and' 35. These relief grooves are .kept open bythe points 'of the screws 33 and which latter arein longitudinal alignmentvgith' said ribs 29 and 35;

During the briquette baking operations the' resin, ,crecsote, methyl` acetate, acetate of lime, and like elements from the Wood. or material from which the briquettes are formed Will, under the continuouspressure, be driven to the surfaces of the briquettesk andv particularly those surfaces in contact with the tubular dies 27 and asl a result, thev surfaces of the briquettes Will be very thoroughly ycharred or carbonized, ,thereby form ing a practically solidv shell around the'peripheries of the briquettes so that thelatter may be readily handled Without brealnigel when .discharged Vfrom the vmachine, and further, this shell serves as a protection for the briquettes: againstA atmospheric changesA when the b'riquette's lare stored'.

By regulating the speed-at whichv the mul tipley die rotates and varyingthe length foty the tubular dies 27, the baking. periodsV of the'briquettes may be varied and consequent ly the degree of carbonization vmay be very accurately regulated andl controlled. In some instances, it may be found desirable to bake the briquettes so that only the surfaces thereof are charred' and in other. instances,` complete charrmg .or carbonizatron may' be' accomplished.

The gases that are ,driven'oii during the' briquette baking periodmay be taken from the outlet 26 and mixedv `with the' fuel gas' that'passesto the burner tubes throughsup#4 ply pipe 45, thus materially reducing thel cost of operation.

When thebriquette material' uponl and'v justv beneath the surfaces of the grooves that' are formed by the'ribs 29 and 35 is charred;r a series of reinforcing ribsare produced that entendi transversely ofthe peripheral sur faces of the briquettes, thereby `materiallyincreasingthe strength andv stability of the briquettes and consequently minimizing the liability of breakage or' fracture While the briquettes arel being handled or transported-.l

After the briquettes pass through the forming and baking dies 27" they discharge into the tubular holders 38 andl they gradu- 115i" est yally move toward the outerends of said holders and While passing through/saidlhold? Vers they -Will be .materially cooled by air drafts ythat pass through the chamber .be-

tWeen the' disks 18 and 19.5 Inasmuchasthe tubular holders .38 arevslotted' and enclosed between` coiled `Wires fil), the air draft delivered'to the chamber betweenv the disks 1'8andff` l9-is 4free-tofcontactwith the surfaces of the briquettes,v thereby materially decreasing the f temperature thereof, andas a resultof this cooling actionethey briquettes arehardened i as they discharge from the ends lof the tu# bular holders; y M f so that they may be readily'handled-a's soon f iso;

`ln the modiiied construction illustrated in Fig. 7, a tubular die having longitudinally vdisposed ribs 5l is removably` seated in the yliront disk 17 directly in front o'll each tubular member 23 and said tubular member 50 being detachably retained in said disk in any siutable manner, preferably by means of a set screw 52. rlhis construction enables the briquette forming dies to be readily removed and repaired or replaced in the event that they become Worn or broken in service. While I have shown and described my iinproved apparatus as being especially designed for briq etting sawdust, shavings, and like comminuted Wood, it will be understood that said apparatus may be employed With equal ladvantage in briquetting straw, hay, peat, or in tactany similar vegetable matter, and in some instances it may be found advantageous to arrange the multiple die so that it rotates on a vertical axis inkstead of on a horizontal afzis as herein shown stances the fuel heated fluid or electric Wires aie taken into the rotary member through one oit' the trunnions thereof, preferably the trunnioii at the rear end ot the machine.

Thus it Will be seen that l have provided a relatively simple apparatus that may be economically employed for producing and baking fuel briquettes from vegetable matter such as sawdust, shavings, straw, hay, or the like. i Y

It Will be understood that minor changes inthe size, orm and construction of the various parts oi my improved liuel briquette forming and drying machine may be made and substituted iior those herein shoivn and described Without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: l. ln a briquette forming and baking machine, an elongated tubular die, longitudi-` nally disposed ribs arranged on the inner surface of said die at its receiving end and pointed members extending through the Walloi'v said die in longitudinal alignment With said ribs. o

Q. In a briquette Jforming and baking machine, a rotary member, a series ot elongatec L 1' l tubular dies caiiied theieoy, the Walls or which dies are peri'orated, means for successively compressing charges oi' briquette lmaterial and torcing the same into the dies,

means for heating the dies to drive ori gases and y"volatile matter from the briquettes Within said dies and means associated with said rotary member for confining andrecovering said gasesfand volatile mattei'.

3. ln a briquette forming and baking machine, a member mounted for rotation, a

series of tubular dies carried by said member, a relatively lined briquette forming die with which the receiving ends of the tubular dies are adapted to register as the member is rotated and a grooved plunger adapted to move through said tired die and to successively enter the ends oi the tubularI dies.

a. in a briquette `forming machine, the combination with a substantially tubular forming die provided with internally arranged lono'itudinally disposed ribs and a grooved die adapted to enter said ribbed die.

5. ln av briquette forming an baking machine, a die-carrying member having an axially disposed portion upon which it rotates'and said axially disposed portion being provided with a duct for the admission or a heating element.

6. ln a briquette forming and baking ma chine, a hollow rotary die-carrying member having trunnions, one of which is provided with a duct i'or the admission of a heating element.

ln a briquette iorming machine, a. rotatirely mounted member having a heating chamber and a cooling chamber, a series of elongated tubular dies carried by said inember and extending through the heating chamber and a series ot holders for the termed briqucttes extending through said cooling chamber.

8. ln a briquette forming machine, a rotary member divided into a heating chamber and a cooling chamber, a series of elongated tubular dies carried by said member and extending through the heating chamber therein and means located in the cooling chamber for supporting briquettes that are formed in said tubular dies.

9. in a briquette forming machine, a rotary member divided into a heating chamber and a cooling chamber, a` series of tubular dies carried by said member and extending through the heating chamber therein, means for successively forcing charges of briquette material into said dies and means Within said cooling chamber for receiving and holding the formed briquettes after they `discharge from the dies and pass through said cooling chamber.

l0. in .a briquette forming machine, a briquette receiving and holding member comprising a slotted tube and a resilient member surrounding said slotted tube.

1l. A. briquette orn'iing and baking machine comprising vprimary forming die, a plurality of secondary forming and heating dies, means for aligning said secondary iorn'iing and heating dies and said holding dies. means rotatably mounting said aligned dies about a common 'center and equidistant therefrom, a plunger ittingsaid primary forming die and engaging one of vsaid secondary forming and heating dies in alignment therewith, and means upon removal of lll) Il (l said plunger from said secondary forming and heating die for rotating said alined secondary forming and heating dies and said holding dies. 1

l2. A briquette forming and halting machine comprising a primary forming die, a plurality of secondary forming and heating dies, means for aligning said secondary forming and heating dies and said holding dies, means rotatably mounting said aligned dies about a common center and equidistant therefrom, a. plunger hitting said primary forming die and engaging oneof said secondary forming and heating dies in alignment therewith., and means upon disengagement of said plunger from said secondary forming and heating die for rotating said aligned secondary forming and heating dies and holding dies and means for successively aligning' said primary forming dies with said secondary forming and heating dies and said holding dies.

13. A briquette forming and baking machine comprising a primary forming die, a

plurality of secondary formino` and heating dies a luralit of holdin@ dies. said secy u b n l n ondary forming and heating dies and said holding dies being rotatable aboutra com-v mon axis and adapted to register with each other, said heating dies providing hollow integral perforated members, said holding dies providingoholloiv eXpansible members, a plunger fitting said primary forming die and engaging one of said secondary forniing and heating dies, means upon disengagement of said plunger from said secondary Jiormingy and heating dies for rotating said secondary forming and heating dies andV holding dies in their aligned position and lineans for successively aligning said primary yforming dies j` with said secondary 'forming and heating .dies and said holding dies. o

14. A briquette forming and baking machine comprising a. primary forming die, ribs on said die, a plurality of secondary forming and heating dies, ribs on said last named dies, a plurality of resilient holding dies, means aligning said secondary forming and heating dies and said holding dies, means rotatably mounting said aligneddies about a CommonV center and equidistant therefrom,l a plunger fitting said primary forming die and engaging one of said seo- :o-iidary iorniing'and heating dies in alignaligned position and means for successively aligning said primary forming dies with said secondary forming and heating dies and said holding dies.

In testimony WhereoI aiiix my signature.

' `VVILLXAMV C. CARPENTER,A 

